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HUG Hive| SHDF Hive | Learning community | Distribution network operators

Delivery newsletter | June 2025

The official start of summer is just around the corner and the summer solstice – the longest day of the year – is only nine days away.

In our newsletter this month we share reminders on:

• the imminent DMS data submission deadline
• a reminder on the importance of timely and accurate TrustMark lodgements
• and more

This is the last delivery newsletter that will contain combined information for our Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2 grant recipients. From July onwards, the newsletter will be catered specifically to SHDF and HUG2 who will continue to receive catered, specific information to support scheme closure as necessary.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all HUG2 grant recipients for their dedication to maximising delivery under the scheme. We're looking forward to continuing to celebrate your successes and spotlight your achievements as the scheme heads towards formal and final closure.

DMS data submission reminder

The DMS data submission deadline is always on the 10th working day of the month. Staying on top of these helps us track progress and keep everything running smoothly. 

The next deadline to submit your reports is tomorrow, Friday 13 June.

• As the HUG2 scheme delivery window has closed, grant recipients aren't required to wait for the monthly deadline for submission
• A reminder to SHDF grant recipients to ensure all required sections are completed before you upload your report to the DMS. Data reporting guidance, including a video walkthrough to answer common questions and challenges identified, can be found on the monthly reporting resources webpage of the SHDF Hive

Lodging completed properties on TrustMark

To stay aligned with TrustMark requirements, be sure to have the following details submitted in your monthly DMS report: 

• property upgrade details: include the property address, postcode, UPRN and pre and post-installation EPC ratings (easily found in the 'property details' tab)
• installed measure details: capture details like measure type, installation date, cost and TrustMark reference number – these are all in the 'measure details' tab

Are you working with contractors to lodge properties via TrustMark?

Don't forget these key resources are there to help:

• view video guides to assist with lodging your property via the Trustmark website
• visit our tips and advice for TrustMark photo evidence webpage on the Hive, designed to ensure that all installations are documented correctly, helping teams to avoid failed uploads, unnecessary call-backs and delays with compliance sign-off

Extended deadline for your quarterly support services feedback – now due by 5pm Friday 20 June

We're extending the deadline for our quarterly support services feedback survey.

It's really important that we capture your comments. We really encourage you to take part.

Other grant recipients have completed the survey and it would be a shame if your views weren't included.

Issued every three months, the survey is designed to gather valuable feedback on your experience working with your single point of contact (SPOC) within the context of your programme(s).

The survey should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete and your input is essential to help us enhance the quality of support provided and ensure the success of these programmes. 

Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) updates

ABS closure and DMS reporting

All access to the automated batch system (ABS) was revoked at 4pm on Friday 6 June. Following this deadline we're aware of some concerns arising from grant recipients with outstanding or unprocessed batch amendments.

A reminder that:

• data reconciliation will be based on the information submitted through the DMS, not information on the ABS
• if your batch amendments were not processed before the deadline, please ensure these are added to the DMS as soon as possible, accurately reflecting any changes and as measures were delivered on-site at the relevant property
• you don't need to wait for the 10th working day to submit your reports via the DMS

Support with your data reconciliation

Data reconciliation is the process of reviewing and verifying your delivery data to ensure:

• there are no errors, omissions or inconsistencies between what’s reported in the Data Management System (DMS) and TrustMark
• your final records are complete and accurate ahead of project closure

Please note: your project cannot close until reconciliation is complete.

A reminder that our Salix project support officers are here to help you throughout the data reconciliation process and will happily accommodate any frequency or additional meetings to ensure you can reconcile any issues as soon as possible.

Reminder: lessons learnt log

HUG2 grant recipients are required to submit a final lessons learnt report as a part of your project closure. This should be done no later than Thursday 31 July 2025 as detailed on the closure checklist.

Due to the need for consistent analysis and evaluation across all projects within the scheme, we are only able to process submissions using the standard template provided. 

Visit the lessons learnt webpage on the Hive for guidance, FAQs and the relevant template to support you with this activity as a part of your project closure.

May roundtable readout and the future of roundtables

The roundtable readout from the Friday 16 May roundtable was shared by our departmental colleagues on Thursday 5 June. Slides can be found on the key documents webpage on the HUG Hive.

There will be no further roundtables for HUG2 grant recipients as departmental focus moves towards supporting grant recipients in their delivery through Warm Homes: Local Grant.

If you have questions about closure or require specific support, please speak with your SPOC and/or Salix project support officer first.

Unsure if you've missed a communication?

The historic communications webpage on the HUG Hive details a timeline of communications sent to grant recipients by us (Salix) or the department.

If you're unable to locate or didn't receive a communication listed on the page, please contact your SPOC.

Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
(SHDF) Waves 2.1 and 2.2 updates

Coming soon... monthly progress reports

Our data analysts have been working hard behind the scenes to produce a monthly progress report for Wave 2 grant recipients.

The aim of the report is to provide you with a clear picture of your progress and performance to date and highlight any variances between your delivery and baseline targets.

Please keep an eye out for an email from your Salix project support officer with an inaugural copy of your report. This should be delivered to the primary scheme contact via email within the next few days and will be sent on a monthly basis moving forwards to help you to track your progress.

Should you have any questions once the report is received, please don't hesitate to reach out to the team and we'll happily answer any questions or assist.

Advice and tips for optimised resident engagement

Resident engagement is one of the key challenges identified by grant recipients delivering through both Wave 2.1 and Wave 2.2 of the scheme.

A recorded presentation from a Learning Community session run in early 2025 in which experts from Portsmouth City Council shared insights and experiences with the critical challenge of resident/tenant engagement.

Read the session recap on our website or watch a recording of the presentation on our Youtube channel.

Reminder: the SHDF Hive is now live

We are pleased to announce that the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Hive is now live!

The SHDF Hive is our online resource repository which exists as a centralised space where you can access valuable insights, helpful resources and find guidance on common questions and challenges.

Visit the Hive today.

Financial reconciliation reminder

Financial reconciliation is an ongoing activity. Please continue to keep an eye on your inbox for further communications and requests for reconciliation samples evidence checks.

If you are still yet to submit a reconciliation document for FY24/25, please prioritise this as a matter of urgency. The department has its own financial reporting responsibilities that use reconciliation documents as its data source.

Emails related to financial reconciliation will be sent from hug_shdf@salixfinance.co.uk

Support for BSR-impacted properties

If you're struggling to navigate or have questions about the building safety regulator (BSR) gateway process, we're here to help.

Please raise a request for support with your SPOC. 

Working with your distribution network operator 

There are 14 Distribution Network Operators across Great Britain. These are the licensed companies that own and operate the network of towers, transformers, cables, and meters that carry electricity from the national transmission system and distribute it across Britain. 

The Distribution Network Operators acts as a gatekeeper to the national transmission grid, distributing energy from the grid to homes and businesses.  

Visit our Salix website for best-practice guidance for applicants delivering upgrades through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.

Unsure if you've missed a communication?

The historic communications webpage on the SHDF Hive details an overview of key communications sent to grant recipients by us (Salix) or the department.

If you're unable to locate or didn't receive a communication listed on the page, please contact your SPOC.

Why am I receiving this email?

We’ve sent you this newsletter because the records we (or the delivery partner) – suggest you are a contact for a Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund or Home Upgrade Grant project.

If this is correct, you don’t need to do anything else and can stop reading.

However, if you believe this email has been sent in error, please contact us at communications.housing@salixfinance.co.uk